Technical Writer Certification and Certificate Programs

There are undergraduate and graduate certificate programs that appeal to prospective technical writers of all education levels and work experiences. Read about what's covered in these options, what's needed to apply for admission, certification paths and employment statistics.

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Essential Information

Students in technical writing certificate programs learn how to translate difficult instructions into user-friendly formats. In addition to preparing for jobs as technical writers and editors, graduates of these undergraduate- and graduate-level programs can earn professional certification. To be eligible for the undergraduate program, candidates often have technical experience, a high school education and may be pursuing a bachelor's degree. For graduate programs, a bachelor's degree is required. In fact, to apply for certification as technical writer, may organizations call for a bachelor's degree or a combination of experience and a high school diploma.

Technical Writing Undergraduate Certificate

Technical writing certificate programs are usually geared toward professionals already working in such fields as information technology or human resources. Programs are also offered to students who'd like to prepare for entry-level positions as technical writers. Over the course of these 1-year programs, they learn how to turn highly technical instructions into documents, such as instruction manuals and user guides.

Education Prerequisites

Many certificate programs don't require students to meet educational prerequisites. However, some certificate programs are offered to students who are already enrolled in bachelor's degree programs. Applicants to these programs will need a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Course Topics

Course topics discuss how to format and structure documents. Students may also take elective courses in computer science or business. Common courses include:

Editing

Technical writing standards

Business writing

Document creation

Project management

Employment Outlook and Salary Info

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected that job openings for technical writers would increase 18% through the 2008-2018 decade (www.bls.gov). This was due to the increasing need for training materials by customer service and support systems. Businesses' ability to constantly revise online materials was also expected to drive demand.

The BLS reported that, as of May 2010, technical writers earned a mean salary of $66,240. Technical writers with the highest average salaries worked in California ($82,730), Massachusetts ($81,270), New Hampshire ($75,290), Virginia ($76,620) and Washington state ($78,850).

Continuing Education Information

While certificate programs can provide students with the training needed for entry-level positions as technical writers, the BLS states that the majority of employers hire applicants who hold bachelor's degrees. Additionally, technical writers may need training or experience in fields such as biology, physics, medicine, computer science or engineering. Graduates of technical writing programs might consider pursuing degree or certificate programs in one of these areas to improve their job prospects.

Technical Writing Graduate Certificate

Graduate certificate programs in professional writing or technical communications provide business professionals and experienced writers with the skills needed to design digital and print documents for a variety of audiences. Students may also learn how to teach professional writing courses or create websites. Internship opportunities may be available in some programs.

Education Prerequisites

The majority of graduate-level certificate programs require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree. Applicants may also need to complete prerequisite communications courses.

Course Topics

Many certificate programs allow students to choose electives in grant writing, multimedia applications, graphic design or linguistics. Common core classes may include:

Rhetorical theory

Professional writing

Visual communications

Proposal writing

Technical communications editing

Popular Career Options

According to some schools, students who complete graduate-level certificate programs in this field can work for businesses, government agencies or corporate publishers. Possible job titles are listed below:

Grant writer

Independent consultant

Technical editor

Technical Writing Certification Program

Some professionals choose to earn certifications through nationally recognized professional organizations. These credentialing programs are often established as a way for technical writers to demonstrate their competency to prospective employers.

Certification programs may include eligibility requirements. For example, the Society for Technical Communication (STC) requires applicants to have a bachelor's degree in a field such as English or computer science and 3-4 years of experience. Applicants with a high school diploma can qualify with five years of experience. The Certified Professional Technical Communicator credential is awarded once applicants' work samples are approved by the STC.

Other organizations, like the Procedure Professionals Association, require applicants to complete its Writer Certification Program. This entails a 3-day class followed by an exam.